Group Financial Controller

Harper May is proud to partner with a prominent leader in the real estate sector, boasting a diverse portfolio of state-of-the-art facilities. Currently, they are seeking a dynamic Group Financial Controller to join their finance team. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in ensuring the financial health and integrity of the group.

Core Roles and Responsibilities:

• Take ownership of the Group's financial control function, including transforming existing global reporting processes. Lead enhancements in technology and systems, improve reporting capabilities, and strengthen controls. Liaise with key stakeholders internally and externally, including C-suite, external auditors, regulators, and consultants.
• Partner with the technology team to craft a roadmap for systems development. Ensure systems are aligned with the evolving needs of a growing.
• Identify and lead projects across finance, such as new systems implementation, finance transformation, and selection of suppliers for required solutions.
• Provide leadership to direct staff, chair the Group's site financial controller forum, and indirectly manage the rest of the finance team. Manage day-to-day accounting operations, including Billing, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General Ledger, Cost Accounting, Inventory Accounting, and Revenue Recognition.
• Take charge of the global month-end reporting process, ensuring timely reporting of monthly results to internal and external stakeholders
• Provide financial analysis to the commercial team and C-suite to support financial decisions and the budget process.
• Contribute to consolidated monthly management accounts for debtors and cash-flow reporting, and provide ad-hoc reporting to the business.
• Coordinate cash flow management, debt collection, and deal with customer queries in support of local teams and/or the Group Commercial team.
• Lead the production of annual and interim reports, collaborate with legal, brand, and commercial teams. Prepare reports for presentation to the Board and Audit Committee. Act as the key point of contact for ESG financial reporting and represent the company in external forums.
• Oversee the Group's annual audit process and act as the primary contact for external audit teams, including the audit partner. Engage with overseas parent auditors as part of the year-end audit.
• Maintain up-to-date technical knowledge of IFRS within the team, including ownership of group and subsidiary accounting policies
• Take ownership of covenant compliance, including coordination with banks where required. Provide support to the tax and treasury team, including inter-company loan, bond, and hedge accounting.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A chartered accountant qualification (ACA or equivalent) is essential. Qualified Accountant with at least 7 years PQE.
• Experience of consolidation and group reporting.
• Strong experience in financial reporting processes, including a solid understanding of accounting principles and regulations such as IFRS.
• Proven ability to lead and manage finance projects, including systems implementation and process enhancements, with a focus on driving efficiency and effectiveness.
• Leadership and management experience, including the ability to lead a team, chair meetings, and oversee day-to-day accounting operations.
• Experience of ERP systems.
• Advanced Excel knowledge.
• Ability to manage multiple workloads and external contractors.
• Ability to communicate at all levels of management and to be able to appropriately persuade a relevant course of action.
• Knowledge of local GAAP in countries.